2010

The Commedia dell'Arte Exhibition at Bayrisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 18 June - 31 October 2010

Haute Couture in Porzellan – von Franz Anton Bustelli bis Vivienne Westwood
a collaboration with Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg

Die in Kooperation zwischen den Meisterwerkstätten der Manufaktur und den Protagonisten der Modewelt – von Vivienne Westwood bis Gareth Pugh – realisierten Visionen werden in der Ausstellung zusammen mit den einzigartigen Rokokoausführungen aus der bedeutenden Porzellansammlung des Bayerischen Nationalmuseums präsentiert.

Ergänzt wird die Schau durch eine Auswahl prächtiger Damen- und Herrenroben des 18. Jahrhunderts aus der Kostümsammlung des Museums.

Die Ausstellung wird von einem Programm aus Führungen, Vorführungen und Workshops im Bayerischen Nationalmuseum und in der Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg begleitet.

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Bookrelease by Birkhäuser publishers, June 2010

For the first time the Collector's Book from the two limited Editions is available as independend book edition, published by the art and architecture book publisher Birkhäuser in June 2010. Except for its cover design the book is identical to the one of the Collectors and Exclusive Collectors Edition.

Commedia dell'Arte – Couture Edition
edited by Florian Böhm

First Edition: 2010

Book 35 x 24 cm, 320 Pages, 500 Illustr., English

ISBN: 978-3-0346-0544-1

Medieval market scenes, Batman, Minnie Mouse, Dior’s studio, David Bowie, and Buster Keaton – functioning like a film, this book blends historical figures with pop culture, the production of the finest porcelain figures with the creation of sensuous haute couture. It is above all the extraordinary objects it presents that make it truly exceptional: the sixteen porcelain figures of the Commedia dell’Arte created by Franz Anton Bustelli in 1760, newly issued in a limited edition by the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory in 2009 with designs by sixteen internationally renowned fashion designers – including, among others, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Lacroix, Naoki Takizawa, Gareth Pugh, and Victor & Rolf.

With no expense spared, the book documents the many design and manufacturing processes involved in updating these exquisite figures for today’s world. The photographs taken and selected by the volume’s editor, Florian Böhm, depict scenes from the fashion designers’ studios and detailed views of the manufactory at Nymphenburg.

The effect is to bring to light the similarities between the handcrafting methods of both fashion design and porcelain manufacture, similarities characteristic of the contemporary trend of creating limited editions combining the best of modern designs and traditional arts and crafts.

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The Commedia dell'Arte – Couture Edition book receives the iF Communication Design Award 2010

“Works of outstanding craftsmanship, eschewing tame design, playful approaches, avoiding childishness” – reads the statement of the jury for the iF communication design award 2010. This year, the experts honored 480 entries with 499 awards in total.

A total of 1,687 entries were submitted to this year’s iF communication design award. The jury presented the coveted iF label 499 times to 480 entries: 20 entries received an award in more than one category. The top 30 entries, the iF gold awards, will be announced at the awards ceremony at BMW Welt in Munich on September 3.

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The Commedia dell'Arte – Couture Edition book wins Silver at DDC Graphic Fine Art Award 2010

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2009

Haute Couture in Porcelain

To celebrate its 260th anniversary, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg launched a limited edition of the world-famous Commedia dell'Arte figures by the rococo sculptor, Franz Anton Bustelli. Sixteen fashion designers of the highest acclaim were invited to design "new clothes" as a new décor for the figure of their choice. 

Adeline André, Damiano Biella, Igor Chapurin, Esteban Cortazar, Maurizio Galante, Christian Lacroix, Gustavo Lins, Pascal Millet, Gareth Pugh, Ralph Rucci, Elie Saab, Dominique Sirop, Franck Sorbier, Naoki Takizawa, Viktor & Rolf, Vivienne Westwood.

Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg will be presenting these figures for the first time in an exhibition in its historic kiln hall: many prototypes and objects from Nymphenburg's master workshops, the designers' initial creations and the original white porcelain figurines bring the process of developing the Couture Edition to life. The photographs by Florian Böhm, who portrayed the couturiers in their studios, constitute an additional highlight. His studio stills, a series of photographic works, grant an intimate insight into the world behind the scenes of the fashion world.

The exhibition was conceived and laid out by Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram.

20 June – 5 July 2009
Thursday, 4.00 – 7.00 p.m. 
Friday, 1.00 – 7.00 p.m. 
Saturday and Sunday, 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.

Admission: 6 euros

Entrance at the Nördliches Schlossrondell 6

Guided tours: 25 euros per person, appointments may be arranged by email to info@nymphenburg.com or by calling +49(0)89 - 179 197 0.

Collector's Book and Photo Exhibition on the premises of Andreas Murkudis, 1 – 18 July 2009

Nymphenburg is one of the few select brands that Andreas Murkudis uses to stage the changing ambience of his Concept Store on the Münzstraße in Berlin. At Murkudis' showroom, Nymphenburg will from 1 July be presenting the Collector's Book that it premiered at its Summer Festival in Munich on 19 June.

Over a period of almost two years, Florian Böhm, who lives in New York and Munich, created the book, which uses Nymphenburg's Couture Edition to trace the Commedia dell' Arte in its entirety along with the extraordinary influence it to this day has in such a variety of areas as literature, circus, painting, fashion, theatre, cinema and advertising.

The book presentation is being accompanied by an exhibition of Florian Böhm's photos being simultaneously presented at the "Haute Couture in Porcelain" exhibition conceived by Clemens Weisshaar and being staged on the premises of Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg in Munich.

2008

Show at the residence of the German ambassador
in London, 27 November 2008

Following previews in Munich and Paris and a stop in Düsseldorf, the Commedia dell'Arte Couture Edition went on show at the residence of the German ambassador in London on 27 November.

Besides the designers, Gareth Pugh and Gustavo Lins, their Royal Highnesses Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria and the Duke and Duchess of Kent were present.

The Commedia Dell`Arte Exhibition at NRW-Forum Düsseldorf, 31 October – 20 November 2008

From 31 October, the Commedia dell'Arte–Couture Edition will be on show at the NRW-Forum in Düsseldorf – along with the original white porcelain figures and drafts by the designers and photographs by Florian Böhm – who created portraits of the designers and their studios – as well as details from the porcelain workshops … all of which make the process of producing the figures come to life.

Against the backdrop of the history of exhibitions at the NRW-Forum - Werner Lippert, its managing director and curator, has in the recent past presented a Vivienne Westwood retrospective and shows of the works of Mario Testino and Jeanloup Sieff – the planned exposition will also and in particular be documenting the association with fashion.

With designs in their characteristic styles, the designers have realised their vision of a contemporary interpretation of Bustelli's figurines. The show at the NRW-Forum enchantingly combines the rococo period with the modern day, highest porcelain art with fashion, the Commedia dell'Arte with the catwalk

Show at the Haute Couture Week, Paris, 2 July 2008

Following the premiere in Munich, the exhibition of the Commedia dell'Arte Couture Edition was presented on 2 July 2008 at the residence of the German ambassador in Paris, the historic Palais Beauharnais.

Well-known people from the areas of business, science, art and politics enjoyed an unusual evening at the opening.

Premiere and Private Viewing in Munich, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, 19 – 22 June 2008

To celebrate its 260th anniversary, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg this year launched a limited edition of the world-famous Commedia dell'Arte figures by the rococo sculptor, Franz Anton Bustelli.

Sixteen fashion designers of the highest acclaim were invited to design "new clothes" as a new décor for the figure of their choice. Such shooting stars as Gareth Pugh and Viktor&Rolf along with such established leading lights on the haute-couture sector as Vivienne Westwood and Christian Lacroix each decorated a figure from Commedia dell’Arte.

The contemporary interpretation of the 16-piece historic series of figures was created in an exclusive edition of 25 pieces. The designers, Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram, created an exhibition with exponents from the development process of the Couture Edition for the premiere staged in the historic kiln hall at Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg.

The show provided insights into the production of the porcelain figurines. At the same time, it set out the rich cultural context of the Commedia dell'Arte for the visitors.

The photo series by the artist, Florian Böhm, portrayed the workshops and the 16 international fashion designers who contributed to the Commedia dell'Arte Couture Edition.